MTEL Communication and Literacy cheat sheet

Main idea: the sentence that covers the whole passage, not one detail; test it by asking whether every paragraph supports it. A too-narrow option names one paragraph; a too-broad option goes beyond the passage.

Supporting details are stated (explicit in the text) or implied (must be inferred from evidence). Stated-detail questions are answered by locating the sentence, not by prior knowledge.

Inference rule: a valid inference must be forced by textual evidence; if an answer requires outside facts or a guess, it is not supported.

Sequence and cause-effect: signal words such as because, therefore, as a result, consequently, then, before, after, finally mark logical relationships; contrast words (however, although, yet, despite) mark shifts the author is making.

Author's purpose is usually one of: to inform/explain, to persuade, to entertain/narrate, or to describe. Purpose refers to the whole text; tone refers to attitude (critical, neutral, enthusiastic, skeptical).

Fact vs. opinion: facts are verifiable; opinions contain evaluative or judgment language (should, best, beautiful, unfortunately) or unverifiable claims.

Vocabulary in context: replace the word with each option and reread the sentence; the correct choice preserves both meaning and connotation (positive/negative/neutral).

Figurative language: simile uses like/as; metaphor states one thing is another; personification gives human traits to nonhuman things; hyperbole is deliberate exaggeration.

Evaluating arguments: identify the claim, the evidence offered, and any assumption linking them. Common flaws include hasty generalization, false cause, either/or framing, and attacking the person rather than the argument.

Subject-verb agreement: ignore prepositional phrases between subject and verb; indefinite pronouns (each, everyone, somebody, neither) are singular; compound subjects joined by and are plural unless they form one unit.

Pronoun-antecedent agreement: a pronoun must match its antecedent in number and gender; collective nouns (team, committee) are singular when acting as a unit. Clear pronoun reference avoids ambiguity.

Comma rules: use commas for items in a series, after introductory elements, around nonessential clauses, and before a coordinating conjunction joining two independent clauses. Do not use a comma to join two independent clauses (comma splice).

Semicolon joins two independent clauses or separates series items that contain internal commas; a colon follows a complete clause and introduces a list, explanation, or quotation.

Modifier placement: a descriptive phrase must sit next to the word it describes; a dangling modifier occurs when the sentence's subject cannot perform the action in the opening phrase.

Parallel structure: items in a series, comparisons, and paired constructions (either/or, not only/but also) must use matching grammatical forms.

Sentence combining and revision: prefer active voice for clarity, eliminate redundancy, and choose the option that preserves the original meaning while fixing the error.

Paragraph organization: a topic sentence states the main point; supporting sentences develop it; transitions (however, in addition, therefore) signal relationships between ideas.

Essay structure for the writing prompt: clear thesis, body paragraphs each with a claim plus evidence, and a conclusion that reinforces the thesis rather than introducing new arguments.